Nick Sajevic is back playing for the Clippers after missing two and a half months with a lower body injury. (Gary Dorland)

By Dan Marshall

Coming Back

VIDEO: Sajevic re-integrating into Clippers lineup after long term injury

Mar 1, 2023 | 9:03 AM

NANAIMO — Nick Sajevic missed almost three months of the Clippers season with a lower body injury.

Now the Minnesota product is trying to get his game back ahead of the BCHL playoffs. Sajevic was injured in Powell River in late November and made his return on Feb. 20 in Alberni Valley.

“It just felt good to be out there,” Sajevic said about his first game. “I felt like I was ready. I was a little nervous in the beginning but once I got out there I tried not to think too much and trust my abilities.”

The road back was a long one with most of the recovery process back at his home in Minnesota.

For the first month, the now 20-year-old wasn’t allowed to walk but he was still trying to stay active.

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“I have a net in my garage so I put my leg up on a stool and would shoot pucks. I hated watching for the coach. After the first four weeks I started walking again and doing everything I could to get back in shape.”

Sajevic has played four games since coming back to Nanaimo and recorded his first point, an assist, in a 4-3 overtime win in Chilliwack on Friday, Feb. 24.

Getting the timing back and used to the speed of the BCHL again is an ongoing process.

“It’s been slowly coming back every day and every day gets a little bit better. I’m still doing physical therapy but being on the ice every day and practicing things have gotten a lot better.”

With the playoffs now a month away Sajevic wants to help the team achieve post season success.

“I missed a large chunk of the season but hopefully I can make it up by having a long playoff run. I really like our team, we’ve got a really good group and I think the sky is the limit for us.”

CLIP NOTES:

Kai Daniells was given an honourable mention for the BCHL three stars of the week with seven points in a four game span.

The Clippers have announced two recent commitments for their 2023-24 roster. Forward Ryan Shaw from the Westminster Prep program and defenceman Cooper Wilson out of the Vancouver Northwest Hawks U18 team will come to Nanaimo in the fall.

Nanaimo finished the month of February with a 5-4 record. The Clippers have nine games in March with six of those on the road. Nanaimo’s March schedule begins with games at home to Victoria on Wednesday, March 1 and on the road at Cowichan Valley on Friday, March 3.

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